I’ve been doing a fair amount of reading recently, and I was privileged to read this book before even it was officially out for sale. But now that is available, I felt I should tell you about it. I’m using my Friday spot as it is indeed a new book, and I didn’t know the author from before.

Provence, May 1889. The hospital of Saint-Paul-de Mausole is home to the mentally ill. An old monastery, it sits at the foot of Les Alpilles mountains amongst wheat fields, herbs and olive groves. For years, the fragile have come here and lived quietly, found rest behind the shutters and high, sun-baked walls.

Tales of the new arrival – his savagery, his paintings, his copper-red hair – are quick to find the warden’s wife. From her small white cottage, Jeanne Trabuc watches him – how he sets his easel amongst the trees, the irises and the fields of wheat, and paints in the heat of the day.

Jeanne knows the rules; she knows not to approach the patients at Saint-Paul. But this man – paint-smelling, dirty, troubled and intense – is, she thinks, worth talking to. So ignoring her husband’s wishes, the dangers and despite the word mad, Jeanne climbs over the hospital wall. She will find that the painter will change all their lives.

Let Me Tell You About A Man I Knew is a beautiful novel about the repercussions of longing, of loneliness and of passion for life. But it’s also about love – and how it alters over time.

A beautiful, contemplative and touching novel that brings Provence and Van Gogh’s paintings to life.

Thanks to Virago and to Net Galley for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

There are historical (and artistic in this case) figures that set imaginations alight. When I read the description of the book I liked the premise. Rather than being a straight biography of Vincent Van Gogh this novel is built around one episode of Van Gogh’s life, his stay at Saint-Paul-de Mausole, an old-monastery converted into a home for the mentally ill. The story, a third person narrative, is not told from the point of view of the painter, but of Jeanne Trabuc, the wife of the warden, Major Charles Trabuc. She’s the mother of three boys and two girls, but her surviving sons (the girls died at birth) are now grown-ups and have left the family home. Her husband is busy most of the day trying to run the hospital that’s slowly decaying, and her life has become routine and tedious. There have been no new patients for years and she is intrigued by the painter since she first hears about him.

The novel isn’t full of action. Jeanne observes the world around her, and from her thoughts we know she’s always been curious and a woman whose life has spread outside of the boundaries of her everyday life thanks to her imagination. The arrival of the painter brings back memories of her childhood and her dreams of exploring and doing things that others might view as inappropriate or daring. She ignores her husband’s rules and the small town’s gossips and conventions in order to get to know this man. In the process, she learns not only about herself, but she also gains a new understanding of her husband and their marriage.

The Van Gogh we meet in this novel is a man consumed by his art, fond of his brother, seriously ill, but hopeful, at that point, that his illness will improve and he’ll be cured. He is eager to record not the important people and the pieces considered of historical or architectonic interest, but the landscape, the flowers, a moth, olive trees, and everyday people. He finds value and beauty in all things. He only offers Jeanne brief snippets of his life before. The odd mention of flat landscapes in Holland, streets in Arles, a woman he loved, and the incident that brought him there. He paints; he suffers several bouts of his illness and eventually leaves to be closer to his brother and his new-born nephew and under the care of a new doctor. He dies shortly after leaving the monastery of a self-inflicted wound.

The descriptions of the landscape, the seasons, the hospital, and the interactions between the characters are beautiful and poetical. You feel the heat, smell the lavender and the paint, caress the stones and the silk of the yellow dress, listen to the cicadas, and above all, understand this woman’s feelings and experience her emotions. Although I’ve never visited Saint-Paul-de Mausole, now a museum, I felt as if I had, and it is clear that the author is very familiar with the place and has lived and breathed the environment she describes.

I loved the lyrical writing, the feeling of being immersed both in the place and inside Jeanne’s brain and even her body. The characters are consistent, believable and complex human beings. My only doubt was how well Jeanne’s subjectivity, as described on the page, fits in with the background provided. She is a woman who left school at a young age and spent most of the time in the company of a servant with limited social graces and of her father. Her only other contact with the outside world was with the clients of her father’s shop and the people she might meet in her lone walks. She has little formal education (Van Gogh tells her off for leaving school at such a young age, as it was her own choice) although knows how to read and write. But the story, as mentioned before, is not written or told by her in the first person and the author is, in a manner similar to Van Gogh, highlighting that poetry, inspiration and beauty can grow and be found anywhere.

Fletcher acknowledges in a note that she did plenty of research on the subject and tried to be accurate with regards to Van Gogh’s illness and his work whilst at the monastery, but although Jeanne Trabuc and her husband existed (as do their portraits by Van Gogh), the rest of details about their lives are part of her creative (and indeed poetic) license.

Although this is not a book for lovers of action and plot, it is not a difficult or slow read. This is a beautiful, contemplative and touching novel, and a pleasure to read and savour.

Virago are organising some events with the author present, so you might want to check their website, just in case she’s coming somewhere near you.

I was born in Barcelona and have lived in the UK for many years now. I'm a writer, translator (English-Spanish and vice-versa) and I'm a medical doctor and worked in Forensic Psychiatry many years. I also have a BA and a PhD in American Literature and Film, and a Masters in Criminology. I've always loved books and apart from writing them I review them often.
I write a bit of everything, check my books for more information and my about page for links.
My blog is bilingual, English and Spanish.

This comes across as a great idea, a fictional observation of Van Gogh at a certain time in his life, by a character in a book. It does sound intriguing.
I wish Susan good luck with her novel.
Best wishes, Pete.

OlgaNunezsays:

June 3, 2016 6:37 pm

Thanks, Pete. I couldn’t resist the description of the book (I guess being a psychiatrist and liking art although being terrible at anything visual) and it more than delivers. It was one of Van Gogh’s most prolific periods so it seems he found inspiration there if not peace.

Let's CUT the Crap!says:

June 3, 2016 12:25 pm

This sounds a captivating read, Olga. I recently read another review and was immediately hooked. Thank you. <3 🙂

OlgaNunezsays:

June 3, 2016 6:37 pm

Thanks, Tess. It’s a wonder.

Teagan Genevienesays:

June 3, 2016 4:25 pm

It’s a wonderful review, Olga. Susan is sure to be a success. I enjoy fictional stories about real people of long ago. I hope all is going well in your world. Mega hugs!

OlgaNunezsays:

June 3, 2016 6:38 pm

Thanks so much, Teagan. A worthy read for sure. Things… not that good here.

janetweightreed10says:

June 5, 2016 7:00 am

Good morning Olga…oh this definitely one I will order immediately….thank you so much for such a superb review. Janet

OlgaNunezsays:

June 5, 2016 10:41 am

Thanks, Janet. I did think of you when I was reading it. Such a lovely book. Sorry I’m not around much these days. I hope to be able to catch up soon. Mother is not well.

janetweightreed10says:

June 6, 2016 7:23 am

Good morning Olga. I immediately ordered the book…..I am sorry to hear about your Mother, but understand completely. Remember that it’s vitally important that you take particular care of yourself during this period. I know at one point when I was trying to juggle too much – it got to me..and so now I am really working on pacing myself. I continue to send you and your Mother magical hummingbirds. Janet:)x

OlgaNunezsays:

June 6, 2016 7:57 am

Thanks, Janet. We need the magic for sure. I’ll pass your best wishes on and I’ll try and keep it in mind.

inesephotosays:

June 7, 2016 7:42 pm

It is a book I will definitely add to my reading list.

OlgaNunezsays:

June 7, 2016 8:20 pm

I really loved it and with your love for images I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. I will keep my eyes open for new books from the same writer.

inesephotosays:

June 7, 2016 8:53 pm

Yes, this book sounds like my kind of book. Thank you for this wonderful review, Olga!

olganmsays:

June 7, 2016 9:09 pm

Always great to discover good books.

inesephotosays:

June 7, 2016 9:36 pm

True, thank you again!

OlgaNunezsays:

June 8, 2016 7:33 am

Thanks to you. Have a great day. ♥

inesephotosays:

June 8, 2016 7:33 am

You too! <3

Vashti Quiroz-Vegasays:

June 8, 2016 9:11 pm

Lovely interview, Olga. The book’s concept is very creative. Good one. 🙂 xx

OlgaNunezsays:

June 9, 2016 6:44 am

The main characters are interesting in their own right, but the Van Gogh’s connection adds to it… Thanks, Vashti

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This is me!

I am a writer and bookworm who worked for many years as a forensic psychiatrist, and also have a Ph.D. in American Literature, and an MSc in Criminology. I started publishing my stories, in English and Spanish, in 2012 and now have over twenty books available in a variety of genres, a blog (in English and Spanish), and translate books for other authors (English-Spanish and vice versa). Writers and readers both in English and Spanish are my friends, colleagues and allies, and after living in the UK for over twenty-five years, have returned home, to Barcelona, in Spain, searching for inspiration for my stories. Oh, I also love the radio (I volunteer at a local radio station, Sants 3 Ràdio) and all things owl.
Do feel free to connect with me. Here are:
My website/blog:
http://www.authortranslatorolga.com
And for older content:
http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com

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